New taco joint in Lake Forest, pizza place holds cancer fundraiser

If you drove down Lake Forest Drive in the past two weeks, you might have thought you were seeing things. Rocq Cafe closed at the end of August, but could a new restaurant with a bold, red “Tacos” sign really be open three weeks later?

Your eyes didn’t deceive you. Los Tacos Ricos opened on Sept. 20 and hasn’t wasted any time trying to win the hearts of Lake Forest foodies who may already have a Mexican restaurant of choice. The new restaurant is giving out a free taco to everyone who comes in – not just your first visit, mind you – so people can see what Los Tacos Rios is all about.

Much like its five-letter exterior sign, the menu inside the restaurant is simple. Other Mexican restaurants in the area offer a dizzying number of choices – which is good for people who like options, bad for people who have a tough time making decisions. Los Tacos Ricos offers eight different types of foods: tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, tortas, burritos, nachos, menudo and specially grilled short ribs served with guacamole. Different proteins are available for each, but chances are good you’ll have an easy time sorting through this menu.

To go with your tacos, Los Tacos Rios also serves fresh salsas and aguas frescas – colorful beverages like horchata and Jamaica housed in glass barrels – which are made in-house every day.

Full disclosure: I’m a sucker for horchata, especially fresh-made ones.

And even though anyone who had eaten at Rocq knows the dining room is tiny, Los Tacos Ricos intends to allow sports fans to watch their favorite Southern California teams. Will a full selection of domestic and Mexican imported bottled beers, this could be a cozy spot to dig in after work.

Los Tacos Ricos is at 22722 Lambert St. #1702, next to Philly’s Best, in Lake Forest.

PIZZA CHAIN HOLDS MONTHLONG BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER

Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria and Tap Room, a Rancho Santa Margarita staple since 2003, will spend all month raising money for Susan G. Komen Orange County. During October’s “Papas 4 Ta-Tas” fundraiser, when customers buy select items at any of Selma’s three locations – Rancho, Ladera Ranch and San Clemente – $1 will be donated on their behalf.

The fundraiser’s name comes from Selma’s signature 22-ounce “Papa” beers, one of the donation items. The other donation items include large wings, 4x4 appetizers and Captain Caramel Crunch desserts.

“We need to raise at least $1,000, but we hope to do more than that,” said co-owner Eric Miller. “We all have someone close to us who’s been affected by breast cancer.”

Miller said all the Selma’s locations will sport plenty of pink decorations throughout October, including pink beers – nothing too exotic, just a few drops of red food coloring in each, he assured me. For a good cause, the 21-and-over crowd can drink pink.